Residents living along the Chain O’ Lakes could be in line for low-interest loans to pay for shoreline restoration.

The money may be available this summer, says state Sen. Michael Bond. The announcement of Bond’s effort to secure $2 million in state funds for the project came at a news conference Monday morning at the Port of Blarney in Antioch.

The deal is far from done, but Bond expressed confidence it will happen.

“We are here to announce another success and team effort to improve the Fox Waterway system,” Bond said. “It’s an enormous ecosystem, that is essential to the local economy.”

The money will be used to replace vertical sea walls with rocks and organic material that experts say is best to fight against erosion.

If passed by the General Assembly, funds will be given to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, who would then pass them on to the Fox Waterway Agency. The agency will administer loans to 250 homeowners to make the needed improvements. The average loan would be $8,000 with a four- to six-year payback. The interest rates haven’t been determined, but Bond said they would be “low interest and hassle-free.”

Grass Lake resident Ken Thomas attended the announcement. He expressed both hope and skepticism.

“I’d like to really see the money, but where is it coming from?,” Thomas said. “At least somebody is trying to do something.”

Bond, a Grayslake Democrat representing Illinois’ 30th state Senate District, will face Republican Suzi Schmidt, currently the Lake County Board chairwoman, in the November election.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Loan program proposed to help restore Chain Shoreline | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO (AP) — Republican Kirk Dillard says he will wait for results from the state before deciding what to do after the GOP primary for Illinois governor ended in a virtual tie.

Tuesday is the deadline for the state’s 110 local election authorities to declare their results and then report them to the state.

State Board of Elections executive director Dan White says results from 32 election agencies were still outstanding Monday.

The state board won’t certify final election results until March 5.

The Feb. 2 GOP primary ended with Dillard trailing state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington by only a few hundred votes.

The Brady camp says their tally shows Brady maintains a lead of nearly 250 votes.

The GOP winner will take on Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in the November election.

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Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

GOP governor’s race still officially undecided | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November is 10.9 percent, down 0.1 percent from October, according to figures released today by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The three-month moving average increased 0.3 percent to 10.8 percent. Slight increases and decreases in the unemployment rate are to be expected in a national recession.

“Today’s preliminary report reflects the slight-up-and-down movement common in a national recession and should not be used to predict the future,” IDES Direct Maureen O’Donnell said.

“Past experience in Illinois suggests that signs of an economic recovery first will be felt elsewhere in the nation before significant job growth appears here at home.”

Illinois non-farm payroll reported -6,300 fewer jobs in November than in October, the 22nd consecutive monthly loss. The pace of job loss has slowed in recent months. During the last three months, job loss in Illinois has averaged -6,167 each month compared to an average monthly job loss of -25,075 during the first eight months of this year.

Compared to October, employment continued to fall in the Leisure and Hospitality (-4,900), Construction (-3,900), and Trade and Transportation (-1,700) sectors.

The Manufacturing sector showed little change by dropping -200 positions. The Educational and Health Services and Professional and Business Services sectors gained employment. Education and Health Services added 6,000 positions. Professional and Business Services added 1,100.

Nationally, the November unemployment rate declined 0.2 percent to reach 10.0 percent. The three-month moving average increased 0.1 percent to 10.0 percent. Nationally, non-farm payroll employment decreased  11,000. It is the 23rd consecutive month to report a loss.

Total national job loss since the onset of the recession in December 2007 is -7.2 million. In Illinois, it is -360,800. National and state unemployment rates reflect 1983 levels.

The unemployment rate is not the same measurement as those collecting unemployment benefits.  The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment, regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance.  Workers collecting benefits are counted separately.

Therefore, a person who exhausts or is ineligible for unemployment insurance would still be reflected in the unemployment rate if they are seeking employment.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security administers federally funded employment services and unemployment insurance through its nearly 60 offices, including the Illinois workNet Centers.

IDES also receives federal grants to provide and analyze labor market statistics and information.

Illinois November Unemployment Rate Slips Slightly; Slight Increases, Decreases Common in Recession | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Stephen L. Blust, Normal and Horizon Insurance & Associates, Bloomington – Stipulation and Consent Order issued regarding the insurance licenses of Mr. Blust and Horizon Insurance & Associates, effective Sept. 9, 2009.

Horizon Insurance & Associates and Mr. Blust have been licensed since July 27, 1987, and July 1, 1987, respectively, to sell life, accident, and health insurance.

The Stipulation and Consent Order, which includes a $5,000 civil forfeiture and corrective orders, alleges that Horizon Insurance & Associates and Mr. Blust failed to properly protect consumers’ private information.

Timothy G. Murphy & Murphy Insurance Group, Champaign – Stipulation and Consent Order issued regarding licenses of Mr. Murphy and Murphy Insurance Group, effective Sept. 15, 2009.

Murphy Insurance Group and Mr. Murphy have been licensed since Dec. 2, 2004, and the early 1980s, respectively, to sell life, accident, health, fire, and casualty insurance.

The Stipulation and Consent Order, which includes a $10,000 civil forfeiture and corrective orders, alleges that Murphy Insurance Group and Mr. Murphy did not: maintain premiums in a fiduciary capacity; withdraw commissions properly; return an insured’s “return premium” in a timely fashion; maintain a positive running balance in the Premium Fund Trust Account (PFTA); and label the PFTA properly.

Thatcher Floyd, Jacksonville – Application for insurance producer license denied effective Sept. 28, 2009.  Mr. Floyd’s application for a Limited Lines producer license was denied as a result of an investigation which revealed that Mr. Floyd was convicted of felony offenses of Attempt (Arson) and Arson in November 1998.

Christopher Robert Hollingsworth, Chicago – Insurance producer license revoked effective Oct. 12, 2009. Mr. Hollingsworth had been licensed to sell life, accident, and health insurance since July 1, 2002.

Mr. Hollingsworth’s license was revoked as result of an investigation which revealed that he signed a consumer’s name to insurance-related documents without the consumer’s knowledge or consent, misrepresented facts to the Department, and failed to facilitate and aid the Director in an examination.

The Order of Revocation includes a $6,000 civil penalty.

Matthew S. Corbin, Glendale Heights – Application for insurance producer license denied effective Oct. 6, 2009.  Mr. Corbin’s application for a license to sell life, accident, health, property and casualty insurance was denied following conclusion of a hearing on the Department’s Letter of Denial dated June 25, 2009.

The Letter of Denial was issued as a result of an investigation revealing Mr. Corbin had been convicted of felony Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in December 2007.

Amy B. Palmer, LaHarpe – Stipulation and Consent Order issued regarding the insurance producer licenses of Ms. Palmer, effective Oct. 6, 2009.  Ms. Palmer has been licensed to sell life insurance since June 20, 1997.

The Stipulation and Consent Order, which includes a $1,000 civil forfeiture and corrective orders, alleges that Ms. Palmer signed a consumer’s name to an insurance-related document.

Daniel R. Black, Darien – Application for insurance producer license denied effective Oct. 15, 2009.  Mr. Black’s application for a license to sell life, accident and health insurance was denied as a result of an investigation which revealed that Mr. Black was convicted of felony Driving While License Revoked in August 2007.

Henry C. Barefield, Chicago – Insurance producer license revoked effective Oct. 16, 2009.  Mr. Barefield had been licensed to sell life, accident, health, fire casualty and variable insurance since Oct. 16, 2000.

Mr. Barefield’s license was revoked as a result of an investigation which revealed that the Licensee: made a $20,000 withdrawal on a consumer’s annuity without the knowledge or consent of the consumer; failed to deposit $10,000 received from a consumer into an annuity contract; failed to facilitate and aid the Director in the examination; and had his NASD registration terminated.

The revocation includes a $10,000 civil penalty.

More Information

The Department’s mission is to protect consumers by providing assistance and information, by efficiently regulating the insurance industry’s market behavior and financial solvency, and by fostering a competitive insurance marketplace.

The Department assists consumers with all insurance complaints, including health, auto and homeowners. Consumers in need of information or assistance should visit the Department’s Web site at insurance.illinois.gov or call our toll-free hotline at 866-445-5364.

If you would like individual disciplinary orders, please call or e-mail Anjali Julka at anjali.julka@illinois.gov or Louis G. Pukelis at louis.pukelis@illinois.gov.

Illinois Department of Insurance Disciplinary Report for November 2009 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is encouraging people to check their homes this month for a radioactive gas that is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

Radon gas, which comes from the decay of naturally-occurring uranium in the soil, has been found in homes in every county in Illinois.

“Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths each year than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined,” said IEMA Director Andrew Velasquez III.

“While smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer overall, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Our studies have found high levels of radon in nearly 40 percent of the homes tested in Illinois, but you’ll never know if your home has a problem unless you test.”

It’s estimated that 21,000 radon-related lung cancer deaths occur annually in the United States, more than 1,100 of those in Illinois.

In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, IEMA today announced the launch of a radon poster contest to help kids learn about radon and how to reduce their risk of exposure.

Students ages 9-14 are encouraged to create posters depicting radon’s health hazards and the need to test homes for radon.  The deadline for submitting posters is March 1, 2010.

Three winning posters will be selected from the five University of Illinois Extension regions.

Regional poster contest winners will be judged and the top three posters will be submitted to the national competition in Washington, D.C.  Regional winners in Illinois will receive $50 savings bonds and the top three state posters will receive a $100 savings bond.

The national winner, a parent and teacher will win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in an awards ceremony.

The state Radon Poster Contest is sponsored each year by IEMA, the American Lung Association of Illinois, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago and the University of Illinois Extension.

Educational materials about radon and more details about the poster contest are available for teachers at the Extension’s radon Web site at TakeActionOnRadon.illinois.edu.

“Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US,” said Eileen Lowery of the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

“Increased radon awareness and educating homeowners about the importance of testing their homes for radon is a vital part of our mission.”

Homeowners can test their homes with kits purchased at hardware or home improvement stores or hire an IEMA-licensed radon measurement contractor to conduct the test.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends taking actions to reduce home radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or greater.

IEMA also licenses radon mitigation contractors, who can install a system to reduce radon concentrations.

More information about radon, including results from IEMA’s statewide radon study and lists of licensed radon measurement and mitigation professionals is available at radon.illinois.gov or by calling the radon hotline at 1-800-325-1245.

IEMA Urges People to Test Homes for Radon During Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.